Module of reflection mirrors of L-shape

ABSTRACT

A module of reflection mirrors of L-shape according to the invention, arranged in an optical chassis of scanner, is comprised of a first L-shaped mirror and a second L-shaped mirror. The recession portions for the second L-shaped mirror and the first L-shaped mirror are corresponded to each other in the space. After entering the module with a specific angle, an incident light is reflected several times between the two L-shape mirrors before it leaves the module with another angle again. Wherein, there are a first reflection zone and a second reflection zone at the recession portion of the first L-shaped mirror, and there are a third reflection zone and a fourth reflection zone at the recession portion of the second L-shaped mirror. After entering the module with a specific angle, the incident light passes through the second reflection zone, the third reflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, the second reflection zone, the first reflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, and the third reflection zone in sequence to get an appropriate optical length. Then, the reflection light leaves the module of reflection mirrors of L-shape with another angle that is different from the entering angle and is then focused into an image on a CCD by a lens.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a module of reflection mirrors, especially to amodule of reflection mirrors of L-shape in an optical chassis ofscanner, wherein a light is reflected in the module of reflectionmirrors of L-shape to form a specific constant length of path forfacilitating a scanned document to be focused into an image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A scanner of prior arts as shown in FIG. 1 has a main body 2, of whichsurface has a transparent platen 3, and inside which has an opticalchassis 5 capable of repetitious displacement. A document 4 is placed onthe transparent platen 3 and is covered by a cover 1, and at this time,the optical chassis 5 in the main body 2 is displaced from one side ofthe platen 3 to scan the data of the document 4 for picking up image,and its motion is shown in FIG. 2.

In order to obtain appropriate optical length within specific volume forabove-mentioned optical chassis 5, inside which plural reflectionmirrors are arranged for obtaining appropriate optical length to makethe reflection light be focused into an image onto a CCD by a lens.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows an example that plural mirrorsreflect the light to obtain appropriate optical length. In thisstructure, a first light source 501 irradiates a light toward a document4, and the light is reflected toward the first mirror 502, the secondmirror 503, and the third mirror 504 in sequence to be focused into animage afterwards on the first CCD 506 by the first lens 505. In thisexample, three reflection mirrors guide the light to obtain anappropriate optical length, thereby the volume of the optical chassis 5is reduced, and therefore, someone applies the same principle withfurther more mirrors to achieve this object. Thus, following theincreasing number of components, the position problem is incurred morefrequently, because a supporting point is needed for each mirror. Thus,when assembling each mirror, the accumulated tolerance of each mirrormakes the position for each mirror become more difficult and themalfunction for components is incurred more frequently. Furthermore, theincreasing number of components will complicate the filing and stockingworks for supplies relatively, and the cost of supplies is alsoincreased, so the price competition ability for this product is weak.

In addition, although there is also a design of multi-reflection bysingle mirror or parallel mirrors, but it is independent between eachmirror, so the fixation for the relative positions and angles betweeneach mirror becomes a main factor to accumulate tolerance.

Accordingly, the inventor addresses an ingenious design of a module ofreflection mirrors of L-shape 508 that can effectively improveabove-mentioned shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a module of reflectionmirrors of L-shape to combine mirrors and simplify components byapplying an L-shaped structure, therefore, to reduce the manufacturecost and the assembling tolerance during manufacture and assembly.

In order to describe the operational principle of the module ofreflection mirrors of L-shape proposed by the invention in more clearway, a detail description cooperated with referential drawings ispresented as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view for a scanner.

FIG. 2 is a plan side view for a scanner.

FIG. 3 is an illustration for image picking-up of an optical chassis ofscanner according to the prior arts.

FIG. 4 is an illustration for image picking-up of the first embodimentof an optical chassis of scanner according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration for image picking-up of the second embodimentof an optical chassis of scanner according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A module of reflection mirrors of L-shape according to the invention isprovided to combine mirrors and simplify components and, therefore, toreduce the manufacture cost and the assembling tolerance duringmanufacture and assembly.

A scanner according to the invention as shown in FIG. 1 has a main body2, of which surface has a transparent platen 3, and inside which has anoptical chassis 5 capable of repetitious displacement. A document 4 isplaced on the transparent platen 3 and is covered by a cover 1, and atthis time, the optical chassis 5 in the main body 2 is displaced fromone side of the platen 3 to scan the data of the document 4 for pickingup image thereof, and its motion is shown in FIG. 2.

In order to obtain appropriate optical length within specific volume forabove-mentioned optical chassis 5, inside which a module of reflectionmirrors of L-shape 508 is arranged for obtaining appropriate opticallength to make the reflection light be focused into an image onto a CCDby a lens.

Please refer to FIG. 4. The structure of the module of reflectionmirrors of L-shape 508 is comprised of a first L-shaped mirror 5081 anda second L-shaped mirror 5082. The second L-shaped mirror 5082 and thefirst L-shaped mirror 5081 are arranged in the optical chassis 5 andtheir recession portions are corresponded to each other. A second lightsource 507 irradiates a light toward the document 4, the picked-up dataon the document 4 is formed as an incident light entering into themodule of reflection mirrors of L-shape with a specific angle. Afterinter-reflected between the first L-shaped mirror 5081 and the secondL-shaped mirror 5082, the reflective light leaves the set with anotherangle and is focused into an image onto a second CCD 510 by a secondlens 509.

The design of optical length of said module of reflection mirrors ofL-shape 508 is as follows: a first reflection zone 50811 is located atthe upper portion of the first L-shaped mirror, while a secondreflection zone 50812 is located at the lower portion thereof; a thirdreflection zone is located at the lower portion of the second L-shapedmirror, while a fourth reflection zone is located at the upper portionthereof. After entering the module, the incident light is reflected insequence through the second reflection zone 50812, the third reflectionzone 50821, the fourth reflection zone 50822, the second reflection zone50812, the first reflection zone 50811, the fourth-reflection zone50822, and the third reflection zone 50821 and leaves the module ofreflection mirrors of L-shape 509 to be focused into an image onto theCCD 510 by the second lens 509.

One advantage of above structure is that two pieces of reflection mirrorare manufactured integrally and formed into a single L-shaped mirror,such that the relative positions between two reflection mirrors (zones)are very accurate if the precision of manufacture is high enough. Forthe first L-shaped mirror 5081, a first angle 50813 is formed betweenthe first reflection zone 50811 and the second reflection zone 50812,and if it is separated into two mirrors, each which has to be fixed witha fixation seat, so the accumulated tolerance after two mirrors beingassembled is larger than the tolerance of one single integratedstructure. Similarly, for the second L-shaped mirror 5082, a secondangle 50823 is formed between the third reflection zone 50821 and thefourth reflection zone 50822 and, since it is formed integrally, so theaccuracy of the second angle 50823 is more accurate than that of twoseparated mirrors. In general, the accuracy of a pair of L-shaped mirror(i.e., the first L-shaped mirror 5081 and the second L-shaped mirror5082) that is fixed respectively by a first fixation seat 50814 and asecond fixation seat 50824 is twice of that of the four mirrors that arefixed respectively by four separated fixation seats. On the other hand,this structure may simplify the number of parts, such that the suppliesmanagement and manufacture cost during manufacture are benefited.

Accordingly, The design of a module of reflection mirrors of L-shape 508according to the invention may be modified simply to change its opticallength for fulfilling the requirement and performance of differentproducts, and the changing method is described as follows:

As shown in FIG. 5, after shrinking the first angle 50813 of the firstL-shaped mirror 5081, following result may be obtained.

After being reflected from the document 4, the incident light enters themodule with a specific angle and is reflected again in sequence throughthe second reflection zone 50812, the third reflection zone 50821, thefourth reflection zone 50822, the second reflection zone 50812, thefirst reflection zone 50811, the fourth reflection 50822, and the thirdreflection zone 50821, and then leaves the module of reflection mirrorsof L-shape with an angle that is different from the entering angle. Theoptical length for this structure is different from that ofaforementioned structure in that an additional round of light reflectionis executed between the first L-shaped mirror 5081 and, the secondL-shaped mirror 5082. Therefore, in this invention, a simplemodification on the first angle 50813 may just increase the opticallength simply, and which is a convenient mechanism for design, and atthe same time, a simple variation of angle may make the structurefulfilled the requirement of products with different optical lengths.

As for the manufacture of above L-shaped mirrors, if the recessionportion is made of metal material, it may be treated with polishingprocedure to reach the object of reflection or, on the other hand, ifthe recession portion is made of materials of plastic or glass, a metalfilm may then be coated on the mirror for reflecting light.

1. A module of reflection mirrors of L-shape is comprised of comprising:a first L-shaped mirror; and a second L-shaped mirror, the wherein arecession portion of which is corresponded the second L-shaped mirrorcorresponds to that a recession portion of the first L-shaped mirror;wherein, after entering into the module with a specific angle, theincident light is inter-reflected between the first L-shaped mirror andthe second L-shaped mirror, and then leaves the module with anotherangle,; wherein the recession portion of the first L-shaped mirror has afirst reflection zone and a second reflection zone:; wherein therecession portion of the second L-shaped mirror has a third reflectionzone and a fourth reflection zone; and wherein, after entering themodule with a the specific angle, the incident light is reflected insequence through the second reflection zone, the third reflection zone,the fourth reflection zone, the second reflection zone, the firstreflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, and the third reflectionzone, and finally leaves the module of reflection mirrors of L-shapewith another angle that is different from the entering specific angle.2. The module of reflection mirrors of L-shape according to claim 1,wherein the recession portion of the first L-shaped mirror has a firstangle;, wherein the recession portion of the second L-shaped mirror hasa second angle, and wherein different optical lengths may be obtained bychanging the first angle.
 3. The module of reflection mirrors of L-shapeaccording to claim 2, wherein, after entering the module with a specificangle, the incident light is reflected in sequence through the secondreflection zone, the third reflection zone, the fourth reflection zone,the second reflection zone, the first reflection zone, the fourthreflection, and the third reflection zone, and leaves the module ofreflection mirrors of L-shape with an angle different from the enteringangle.
 4. The module of reflection mirrors of L-shape according to claim1, wherein the first L-shaped mirror and the second L-shaped mirror arerespectively formed into one body, and wherein each mirror is fixed atan appropriate position by a fixation seat.
 5. The module of reflectionmirrors of L-shape according to claim 1, wherein the first L-shapedmirror and the second L-shaped mirror are made of material comprised ofmetal.
 6. The module of reflection mirrors of L-shape according to claim1, wherein the recession portions of the first L-shaped mirror and thesecond L-shaped mirror are coated with a metal film.
 7. A method,comprising: receiving incident light into a module with a specificangle; inter-reflecting the incident light between a recession portionof a first L-shaped mirror and a recession portion of a second L-shapedmirror in sequence through a second reflection zone, a third reflectionzone, a fourth reflection zone, the second reflection zone, a firstreflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, and the third reflectionzone, wherein the recession portion of the first L-shaped mirrorincludes the first and second reflection zones and the recession portionof the second L-shaped mirror includes the third and fourth reflectionzones; and outputting the inter-reflected light from the module withanother angle that is different from the specific angle of the receivedincident light.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the recession portionof the second L-shaped mirror corresponds to the recession portion ofthe first L-shaped mirror.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:radiating light from a light source toward a document; reflecting lightfrom the document to the module; and with a lens, focusing the outputtedlight onto a charge-coupled device (CCD).
 10. The method of claim 7,further comprising obtaining different optical lengths at least bychanging a first angle of the recession portion of the first L-shapedmirror.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first L-shaped mirror andthe second L-shaped mirror respectively comprise one body, and whereinthe first L-shaped mirror and the second L-shaped mirror are fixed at anappropriate position by a fixation seat.
 12. The method of claim 7,wherein the first L-shaped mirror and the second L-shaped mirrorcomprise a metal material.
 13. The method of claim 7, wherein therecession portions of the first L-shaped mirror and the second L-shapedmirror comprise a metal film coating.
 14. A module of reflection mirrorscomprising: a first mirror; and a second mirror, wherein a recessionportion of the second mirror corresponds to a recession portion of thefirst mirror; wherein the first and second mirrors are configured toreceive light at a specific angle, inter-reflect incident light betweenthe first mirror and the second mirror, and emit light from the modulewith another angle different from the specific angle; wherein therecession portion of the first mirror includes a first reflection zoneand a second reflection zone; wherein the recession portion of thesecond mirror includes a third reflection zone and a fourth reflectionzone; and wherein the first and second mirrors are configured to reflectthe incident light in sequence through the second reflection zone, thethird reflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, the second reflectionzone, the first reflection zone, the fourth reflection zone, and thethird reflection zone before leaving the module.
 15. The module of claim14, wherein the recession portion of the first mirror includes a firstangle, wherein the recession portion of the second mirror includes asecond angle, and wherein the first and second mirrors are configured toform different optical lengths in response to changes in the firstangle.
 16. The module of claim 14, wherein the first mirror and thesecond mirror respectively comprise one body, and wherein the firstmirror and the second mirror are fixed at an appropriate position by afixation seat.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: a light source; an imagesensor; and an optical light path comprising two reflectors configuredto reflect light radiated from the light source onto the image sensor,wherein each of the two reflectors are further configured to reflect thelight a plurality of times before the light is reflected onto the imagesensor, and wherein one of the two reflectors comprises: a firstreflection zone configured to both reflect the light for a second timewithin the optical light path and reflect the light for a last timewithin the optical light path toward the image sensor; and a secondreflection zone configured to receive the light reflected directly fromthe first reflection zone.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein anangle is formed between reflective surfaces of the first and secondreflection zones.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least one ofthe two reflectors comprises a third reflection zone and a fourthreflection zone, and wherein the optical light path is configured toreflect the light in sequence through the third reflection zone, thefourth reflection zone, and the second reflection zone before the lightis reflected by the first reflection zone toward the image sensor. 20.The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optical light path is configuredto form different optical lengths in response to changes in the angleformed between the reflective surfaces of the first and secondreflection zones.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a first angleis formed between reflective surfaces of the first and second reflectionzones, and wherein a second angle is formed between reflective surfacesof the third and fourth reflection zones.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21,wherein the first angle is different than the second angle.